Free Braille Books Program

What would your students or children like to read in 2019?
Later this year, the American Action Fund team will be choosing books for Brailling in the 2019 Free Braille Books program. This year and last we are producing National Geographic Kids magazine which is relative for children ages 5 through 11. We choose books that have not been Brailled before and that are newly written (within the last two or three years). If we can find a series or chapter books, we love to get those in the hands of our readers.

Of course, we want books that are popular, that all would like to read, and that will suit both boys and girls.

Each year the AAF breaks new ground by offering fresh and interesting titles and series that are sometimes overlooked in the Braille community. This year we are excited to bring the critically acclaimed series Here’s Hank, written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. The series won the prestigious Christopher Award in the ages six and up category.

Hank is a smart second grader who has trouble memorizing things. He also has some trouble with math, reading, and spelling. He doesn’t understand why these subjects are a little harder for him, but Hank always tries his hardest, whether he’s helping his sister, standing up to the class bully, or getting into– and out of–trouble with his two best friends. Come along on all of Hank’s adventures…or misadventures!!

The books are produced in contracted UEB Braille and children who sign up for the Free Braille Books Program will receive all twelve titles. We wish you happy reading!!

If you would like to enroll in the program, please scroll down past this section and complete either the online or Word application.

In 1997, the American Action Fund started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children's reading series. The books are for the children to keep and collect for as long as they want them. The titles published every month are the same titles that are available in bookstores and public libraries everywhere. Since 1997, the program has produced over 318 titles in Braille and given them away to more than 20,000 subscribers.

Here are some comments from parents testifying to the benefit of the American Action Fund's Free Braille Books program:

As a blind parent of three children, two blind and one sighted, I am always looking for books in Braille to read aloud. I very much appreciate receiving books from the American Action Fund, and my children also look forward to helping me rip open the envelope to discover what book is inside. Recently, I read Rat and Roach, Friends to the End to my two youngest children, ages four and two. My seven-year-old also sat down to listen about halfway through the story, after he heard us laughing.

This book was enjoyable for everyone. The descriptions of the pictures helped us follow the story. This book had a great story to tell about how two very different animals can be friends, and how their friendship can persist even after a fight. I love books which help teach important life lessons, and I am sure I will pull this book out again at some point in order to help my children through rocky friendship issues. I also very much enjoyed watching my two-year-old, who is blind, running her fingers over the Braille in this book after I had finished reading it. Of course she wasn't really reading the words, but it was great to be able to share a wonderful story with her, and my other two children, and then to have her be able to experience the Braille in the book after the story was done.

Such comments help us to let others know about the Free Braille Books program and what a wonderful resource it is.

We know that children love getting the Braille books in the mail, but we are not able to express it the way you can from first hand knowledge. It is important to have your thoughts in your own words, as well as those of your children or students.

Please let us hear from you. You can email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. You may also call 410-659-9315, extension 2287. If you would like to provide us with additional feedback about our program, please use this short questionnaire.